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Game #2195
Hall of Belated Fame Inductee  Riddle of The Sphinx    View all Top Dogs in this genreCollection: Indie Underdogs
Adventure   Myst-style

Rating: 8.31 (29 votes)

Riddle of The Sphinx box cover

Riddle of The Sphinx screenshot
One of the best adventure games I've played at the turn of 21st century, Riddle of The Sphinx is an atmospheric and absorbing adventure set in modern Egypt. Given its largely empty world and obscure puzzles, it is no small wonder that the game managed to capture my attention to the very end (and I’m one of the “Myst is bad” crowd).

So what makes Riddle of The Sphinx superior to your average Myst clone? There are plenty of reasons. First, the game’s premise, while not very original, is brought to life in excellent detail. The designers spent years researching ancient Egyptian myths, customs, and their way of life – and it shows. Many puzzles are even based on actual traps and puzzles used by ancient Egyptians to deter tomb raiders. Said puzzles are logical and well integrated into the game, and most of them are “real” enough to delight both amateur and professional Egyptologists (although not very challenging).

One of the best aspects of Riddle of the Sphinx is the nonlinear gameplay. As The Adrenaline Vault’s review says, “...there are so many places to go, and rarely do you have to follow a fixed sequence of steps to get somewhere. You will truly feel as if you are discovering and sifting through clues in the same way a research scientist would. As your backpack is filled with highly unusual items, not all of which are critical for success, you might realize that the joy of this game is not just in getting the answer to the riddle, but in having fun digging around along the way.”

With excellent historical foundations and puzzles, Riddle of the Sphinx is a great adventure that anyone who likes a good mystery will enjoy. The riddle itself, once you've discovered it, will be well worth the wait, and the game has countless details, side tracks, and distractions to keep you entertained along the way. As you try to decipher cryptic passages, analyze strange items, and explore secret caverns, you will feel the sense of exhilaration that must be what attracts real-life Egyptologists to their work or hobby. I can’t recommend the game highly enough – it's a must have! Note: As of writing this, a HD remake by at least some of the original creators seems to be in progress over at Kickstarter so make sure to subscribe to their feed!

Reviewed by: Underdogs
Designer: Unknown
Developer: Omni Creative Group
Publisher: Dreamcatcher Interactive
Year: 1999
Software Copyright: Omni Creative Group
Theme: Mystery, Modern
Multiplayer:  
None that we know of
System Requirements: Windows XP
Where to get it:
Related Links: Official site, Andrew Plotkin review
Links:    
If you like this game, try: Riddle of Master Lu, Morpheus, Infidel

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